PreK Registration Opens February 8, Closes February 12 at Sudduth & West Elementary Schools

PreK Registration Opens February 8, Closes February 12 at Sudduth & West Elementary Schools

Mark your calendars! Registration for the Starkville Oktibbeha School District  pre-k program at Sudduth and West Elementary Schools opens Monday, February 8.   To be eligible to register for the District’s pre-k program, students must be four years old on or before September 1, 2021. 

Students who demonstrate a need for a preschool program are placed in the program first.  Remaining slots are filled on a first come, first served basis. 

Due to Covid-19, Sudduth Elementary School will host pre-k registration as a drive-thru event.  Parents must drive-thru carpool, entering from Montgomery Street onto Greenfield Drive in front of Sudduth Elementary School, between 8:30 am and 1 pm February 8 - 12 to complete required paperwork and return all required documents to complete registration. Parents will be required to complete an online form that will be live on Monday, February 8, at 8:30 am. The online form may be completed prior to arrival, or iPads will be available on site to complete the form. Cars will not be allowed to enter Greenfield Drive for pre-k registration prior to 8 am due to morning carpool traffic.  

West Elementary School will host walk-up registration at the school office February 8-12 from 8:30 am until 1:30 pm daily.  

Required registration documents for pre-k registration include child’s certified birth certificate, child’s updated immunization record (Mississippi Immunization 121 Form), and two proofs of Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District residency.  Proofs of residency must have the same address on it as the one listed on the registration.  You may be asked to present additional proofs of residency 30 days prior to the start of school. 

Parents/guardians must provide the Starkville Oktibbeha School District with a minimum of one document from each group as verification of address.

Group 1

Mortgage Statement
Property Tax Bill
Filed Homestead Exemption Application
Apartment or Home Lease
Filed Property or Warranty Deed

Group 2

Driver's License or State Issued Identification Card
Certified copy of filed petition for guardianship/final guardianship decree
Utility Bill

  • Water Bill
  • Electric Bill
  • Gas Bill
  • Cable Bill
  • Garbage Bill

If utilities are included in the Apartment or Home Lease, please use one of the following documents for the second proof of residency:

  • Doctor, dentist or hospital bill (mailed to address)
  • Credit card statement
  • Insurance policy (Health)
  • State or federal benefit check
  • Salary check stub
  • Government mailing (Social Security or Medicaid Determination letter, IRS, etc.)
  • Bank Statement
  • Driver’s License or State Issued Identification Card

AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATION AND VOTER PRECINCT IDENTIFICATION ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE PROOFS OF RESIDENCY.  

Students will be screened at either Sudduth Elementary or West Elementary.  Parents or guardians will bring their children to the school and wait while teachers assess their child.  The school will contact you with the date and time for screening. Students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and are eligible for special education services can attend our Pre-K program.

Registration for pre-k closes Friday, Februrary 12, at 1 pm.  Registering does not guarantee placement in the District’s pre-k program. 

Questions about pre-k? Check out our Q & A

What if my 4-year-old does not qualify for the Title I Pre-K?

 The Starkville Oktibbeha School District through the Early Learning Collaborative offers additional pre-k opportunities for 4 year-old students. For more information, please contact 662-615-0033 or 662-324-4155, or see the following:

Emerson Preschool
1504 Louisville Street
Starkville, MS

or

ICS Head Start Oktibbeha County
1617 Louisville Street
Starkville, MS

When will my child be screened?

The school that your child is zoned to attend will contact the parent to schedule screening.  It is the responsibility of the parent to bring the child to the school for screening at the appropriate time.

Can my child attend Pre-K at the age of five if I choose to start him in Kindergarten at age six?

No, only four year olds may participate in the Starkville Oktibbeha Schools Pre-K program.

Can my child sign up for pre-K if I live outside of the district, but plan on moving soon?

No, you must reside in the Starkville Oktibbeha County School District at the time for which you are requesting enrollment.

How do you determine if a child needs preschool?

Students who register for Pre-K are given the STAR Early Literacy screener to determine academic need.  Other factors are also considered when determining a child’s need for preschool.  Remaining slots are filled on a first come, first served basis.

Is my child guaranteed a place in the Starkville Oktibbeha pre-K program if we register early enough?

No, however it is important that parents register their child as early as possible when the registration window opens.  Students who demonstrate a need for a preschool program are placed in the program first.  Then remaining slots are filled on a first come, first served basis.

Will transportation be available?

Yes, the Starkville Oktibbeha School District will offer transportation to Pre-K students.

Is there a specific curriculum used in the Pre-K program?

All Pre-K programs in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District follow the Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines, and Opening the World of Learning (OWL) Literacy Program, which is a comprehensive Pre-K curriculum.

 When will I find out if my child is in the program?

You will be notified in the spring of 2021 if your child has been accepted to the program. Letters are typically mailed around the end of April. 

Is Pre-K available for students with disabilities?

Yes, students who have an IEP and are eligible for special education services can attend our Pre-K program.

If my child is placed on the wait list, is it possible that he/she might still get in?

Yes, all Pre-K locations within the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District maintain a waiting list throughout the school year and fill slots as they become available.

What are the hours of the Pre-K program?

Our pre-K program is an all-day program.  The Pre-K program will follow arrival and dismissal times and procedures established by the school site.

 What immunizations are required for Pre-K students?

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP)

Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib)

Hepatitis B

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

Pneumococcal

Polio (IPV)

Varicella (chickenpox)